Worth The Purchase?

[dinkjs]

So right now I have hand planes ranging from 3 to 8 (minus a #7)

My question is TO THE PEOPLE THAT ALREADY OWN THE ODD BALL SIZE PLANES! Should I invest in the unordinary sizes....4 1/2, 5 1/4, 5 1/2?

As for a #1 or #2 I am not even letting it cross my mind....they are not worth the money to have those 2 unless someone practically gives me one

[ChetlovesMer]

That's a tough question. Odd sized planes are worthless... until you need one. Sooner or later you may come across a project where you'd give your kingdom for an odd plane. But more than likely it will just sit in you cabinet looking impressive... I can't tell you the number of chicks I've impressed with my collection of planes. "Wow, what a large number of planes you have... Tha's so hot!"

[Dan S]

the only odd sized plane that has ever seemed useful to me is the 4-1/2, and even those are hard to come by.

[Roger T]

So right now I have hand planes ranging from 3 to 8 (minus a #7)

My question is TO THE PEOPLE THAT ALREADY OWN THE ODD BALL SIZE PLANES! Should I invest in the unordinary sizes....4 1/2, 5 1/4, 5 1/2?

As for a #1 or #2 I am not even letting it cross my mind....they are not worth the money to have those 2 unless someone practically gives me one

John,

The only oddball one I have is a 4 1/2. That is my go to smoother for normal size work. It has more mass and a wider blade to help you get the job done. I cannot speak of the other 2 planes as I dont own either. Millers Falls made a 4 1/2 sized smoother also, I think it was a #10. Those are real nice planes as well, though they are a bit tough to find in decent shape.

Roger

[flairwoodworks]

the only odd sized plane that has ever seemed useful to me is the 4-1/2, and even those are hard to come by.

Yup. That'd be the only odd-sized plane I'd look at. Both Veritas and Lie Nielsen make a version.

[jlloydparks]

What you have is more than enough to tackle any hand tool project. Not to discourage your from buying another tool, but in all honesty a lot of the planes made today and even by Stanley back in the day weren't necessary. In the bench plane realm all you need is a jointer, jack and smoother (heck some people get by with only one of those). You have all those in your Nos. 3-8 (minus No. 7).

Now I will raise my hand and say I am not only a user, but a collector and I have an antique No. 4 1/2 and No. 5 1/4. I bought them intending to use them. They now sit on the upper shelf collecting dust. They were set up and work exceptionally well. However, I always found myself reaching for my No. 4 and not the No. 4 1/2 and the same thing with the #5 1/4. My LN No. 62 is my go to jack. So they have been relegated to collector status and sit with other tools that I found I just don't need. Someday I may part with them because I don't see the need.

By the way, there are only three bench planes in my toolchest - LN No. 4 (HAF), LN No. 62 and a LN No. 7. I have been working with hand tools for six years and have yet to find a place where I needed a different bench plane. Spend your money on other tools at this point. Have you got into saws, braces, drills, chisels, or marking tools yet?

[jwatson]

the 5 1/4 was called a jr jack for a reason. was used in schools to teach woodworking to students. they needed the smaller plane.

I have a #6 jointer which is suited to me. i think it all depends on your work you are interested in. I have an interest in smaller case work, i like to build smaller stuff.

[muddlermike]

it's really just about personal preference and the type of work you do. Some people swear by using a #8 over a #7 - that extra 2 inches in length and 1/2 and inch in width might really make a difference if you find yourself flattening large table tops on a regular basis. Many people feel the extra weight of a 4 1/2 helps them get better results smoothing. You never know unless you try it out.

I have a millers falls junior jack that is very cute. No better than any of my other #3 or #4 sized planes, just cute. It's probably the only plane in my collection that I can say is only on the wall because of the novelty of it and not because I have a specific justification for that particular plane. I also have a Millers Falls #18 (Bailey #6 size fore plane) that isn't really much better than my #7, just shorter. The extra mass is nice for a shooting board, and along those lines you might find a 5 1/2 work just as well - and maybe easier in that capacity with the slightly shorter length. Again, just personal preference.

[jon003]

I don't think of those as 'odd' sizes, per se.

I have a #4 (2" iron), #5 (2" iron), #7 (2 3/8" iron) (among others). I think why some people prefer to do a combo of #4.5, #5.5, and #7 are to keep the plane blades the same (2 3/8" for all). That way they can buy extra(s) and then sharpen the extras to alternative angles. Can also buy different metal types (such as O-1) and toothing blades.